I just finished cataloging this Helena. Comments and corrections welcome. Helena AE4, 1.87 g, 14.59 mm. Trier. 337-340 AD. (This one is 13.5 mm) Obverse: FL IVL HE-LENAE AVG, Mantled bust right, hair elaborately dressed. Reverse: PA-X PV-BLICA, Pax standing left holding branch and transverse sceptre cross in left field mintmark TRP in exergue. (Best I can tell it is TRP) RIC VIII Trier 42; cf Sear 3910. Rated Scarce.
You lost me at Helena. I admire those of you who collect Ancients. I get dizzy just trying to decipher what is depicted on the coin. More power to you.
Good job with the attribution, @Inspector43 ! The hairstyle varies from mint to mint and yours has the Trier style. Here's mine: Helena, Augusta AD 324-228/30 Roman billon reduced centenionalis; 1.24 g, 13.4 mm Trier, AD 337-340 Obv: FL IVL HELENAE AVG diademed and draped bust, right Rev: PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter; in exergue TR S Refs: RIC viii, p. 144, 78; LRBC I 119; Cohen 4; RCV 17492. You might be interested in this thread from a few years back.
HELENA AE4 OBVERSE: FL IVL HE-LENAE AVG, draped bust right wearing ornamental mantle, necklace and broad hairband REVERSE: PA-X PV-BLICA, Pax standing left holding branch and transverse sceptre Struck at Trier, 337-40 AD 1.36g, 13.91mm RIC 90
I have been collecting for 72 years. Started on US coins for general circulation. I am burned out and there is very little to search for as my sets are close to full. I had some uncleaned ancients and started on them. With a lot of help from CT members and a lot of reference material I am starting to get in to it. It does take a while and you need to look at things a little different. It kept me in the hobby after I ran out of new territory in the US coins.
Good job on the attribution! I just received a little one of these too. Helena OB: FL IVL HE-LENAE AVG, diademed and draped bust right R: PAX PVBLICA•, Pax standing left, olive branch pointed down in right hand, long scepter transverse in left hand CONSE in emerge 5th officina, Constantinople RIC VIII Constantinople 33 (same legend breaks); LRBC I 1046 (same); Hunter V p. 281, 3 (HEL-ENAE); SRCV V 17497; Cohen VII 4 9 Sep 337 - spring 340 A.D.
Whatever your religion.... whatever your thoughts about Rome, the ancients and Christianity.. You HAVE to admire the woman that was Helena. We are so lucky that she is immortalized in coinage - many less worthy are common in our collections.
For Robert and those who feel his pain: There are several sub-hobbies available to collectors of ancients. One is buying the worst coins and trying to decipher as much as possible from the least evidence. I recommend that new collectors start with slightly better coins and work their way in whichever direction their desires lead them. I am not a fan of the educated guessing game way of collecting but I do not buy only mint state coins either. There are many ways to enjoy ancients. Pick the one that fits. My example is from the mint at Siscia. You can ID it from the hair or general style OR you can take the easy road and read the mintmark SIS.
My only Helena's from Siscia too - I think it is the same as Doug's with the double crescent thingee (not a numismatic term) at the end of the mintmark: Helena Æ Follis (328-329 A.D.) Siscia Mint (Series 4) FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed, mantled bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE, Securitas standing left, with branch and raising hem of robe. ЄSIS double-crescent in exergue RIC Siscia 218; Sear 16610. (3.19 grams / 19 mm)
Good ID... Helena AE3 (19mm, 3.30g). Struck 326-327 AD Obv- FL HELENA AVGVSTA, Diademed and draped bust right. Rev- SECVRITAS REI PVBLICE, Securitas standing left, holding olive branch in extended right hand.raising hem of robe with left hand. Mintmark dot ΓSIS dot. RIC VII Siscia 204; Sear 16609.
HELENA: Jest fer the HECK of it: RI Helena mother Constantine AE Follis Securitas Nicomedia mint 325-326 CE 19mm 3.3g RIC-95 Sear 16619
